Amusement game



Dec. 7, 1937, B. w. WlLLiAMS ET AL AMUSEMENT GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledDec. 20, 1935 a NW W F l I 1 I I l l l l l l l l I l I l I I I .Il

H Ina/anion? BradZwZJUL'ZZa'a ms 1567226715 2716' I 37 1 0M110- Dec. 7,1937. B. w. WlLLlAMS ET AL 2,191,392

AMUSEMENT GAME Filed Dec. 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 as 57 J6I'IIIII'IIIIIII'IIIII'I'II:

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AMUSEMENT GAME Filed Dec. 20,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 BradkeZz/Zzflhms""ffomer y PMS 1937- B. w. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,101,302

' AMUSEMENT GAME Filed Dec. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZZZ/meowBracZZeeZ/ *"filfomen ffllz'ame y I MQP%' Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT GAME Application December 20, 1935,Serial No. 55,325

11 Claims.

The invention relates to a ball rolling game in which free balls arerolled over a substantially horizontally disposed board formed withpockets, or holes, to receive the balls.

More particularly the invention relates to the provision of a novellight up means for such games in which an electric lamp is disposedadjacent each pocket or hole to serve as an indicator, a special controlmeans being provided for causing one lamp to be lighted at theinitiation of the game play to indicate to the player that he is toproject the first ball at his disposal into the indicated hole orpocket. If the player exercises the requisite skill in so depositing aball in accordance with the indication given, another lamp adjacent oneof the other holes or pockets will be automatically lighted to indicateto the player that he is next to project a ball in the second indicatedpocket. The control means then is such as to indicate by means of lamps,or the like, every time a ball is trapped or pocketed, the nextsucceeding target objective. This system of play is operable to indicateto the player, in succession, every objective he must play for,assuming, of course, that the previously played ball was lodged in apocket. After a predetermined number of holes have received balls inaccordance with the indications given, the control means has built upcircuits to cause the establishment of auxiliary circuits for operatinga supplementary device such as an electromagnet for striking a bell orgong. Or the electromagnet could be in the nature of a solenoid, ormotor, for operating a ticket or check dispenser, 5 so that skill in theplaying of the game might be appropriately rewarded.

While the indicators herein preferably take the form of electric lamps,it is to be understood other forms of indicators, to designate the re- 4quired order or sequence, to be achieved in pocketing the balls, may beutilized.

Preferably, a predetermined number of the balls available for play mustbe deposited in the holes in the indicated order of succession before 45the necessary circuit can be built up to establish the first auxiliarybell or pay out circuit. For example, in the present disclosure fourballs must be deposited in the indicated pockets before the firstauxiliary circuit is completed and operative 50 to perform its function.Thereafter, if additional balls are pocketed in the designated order,additional auxiliary circuits are completed to cause repeat operationsof the bell or dispenser devices.

55 The game may be of the pin ball type, al-

though the use of pin obstacles may be dispensed with and a plain,unencumbered board or ball rolling surface may be used.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved ball rollinggame in which a novel 5 light up action is automatically produced by thepocketing of the balls to create the maximum amusement for the player.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and practicableelectrical control device 10 for designating to the player, by means ofsuitable indicators, such as lights, the order he is supposed to followin pocketing the balls.

Another object is to provide a coin released game of the type specifiedin which a member is 15 manually movable to establish a circuit to anindicator adjacent one of the holes to designate that hole as the firstone in a series as the players objective.

Still another object is to provide a novel control switch device in theform of a rotatable circuit establishing means to accomplish the purposeof the game.

It is also an object to provide a novel means for operating therotatable switch device in playing the game and to provide inassociation therewith, means for holding the device locked releasably inany given position definitely and positively to control establishment ofthe circuits.

Other important objects of the invention will 30 be apparent to thoseskilled in the art as the disclosure is more fully made.

In the preferred example herein disclosed a standard pin ball game,having an inclined board formed with ball receiving pocket holes isprovided, there being a normally open ball closed switch in each hole.An indicator light is positioned on the board adjacent each hole and theswitches and lights have circuit wires connectible with a rotary switchthat controls building up of 4 the circuits to carry out the novel lightup action of the game. This rotary switch is carried under the board forstep by step rotation always in the same direction and includes pairs ofcontacts and a master tap which act to complete a circuit to light oneof the lights when the rotary switch comes to a rest position.

Thereafter, pocketing of the balls establishes a succession of circuitsthrough the switch to light other lights to show the order of play to befollowed. The rotary switch is releasably locked in stationary positionafter it has been operated, upon release of the game for play throughthe medium of the usual coin slide operated ball releasing shufileboard. This shuflle board oper- 7 tion theredown in the well knownmanner.

ates a novel pawl mechanism to turn the rotary switch member. r

In the accompanying drawings, showing one form which the invention mayassume in practice:

Figure 1 is a general plan View of a 'pin ball type game with which thenovel structure and action of this invention may be used;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale of the game boardstructure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the game, on areduced scale, taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail, sectional view showing the controlswitch and operating means therefor, taken along the line 4-fl of Figure1,

66 of Figure 5, looking in the indicated direction; Figure '7 is abottom plan view on an enlarge scale of the rotary control switch andoperating means therefor;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan, detail view of the pawl and ratchet operatorfor the rotary member, showing the parts in a difierent relativeposition than appearsin Figure '7; f

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the rotary switch disk, per se; V V

Figure 10 is a plan detail view to show the circuit wiring as it leadsfrom the several disk contacts to the main light and pocket circuits.

and also to the auxiliary bell or dispenser circuits;

Figure 11 is a detail longitudinal sectional View through one of theball pocket switches taken on the line 3-3 heretofore mentioned andshown in Figure 1;' and,

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram for all circuits and the manner of use ofthe control switch.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2 the game with which the invention isusable, comprises the usual pin ball cabinet H], having a front wall H,said cabinet having a glass top l2 below which is carriedv the usualgame board [3 providing a ball rolling surface sloped, slightly from thehorizontal, with the low end of the board adjacent the front wall H,

The board carries the usual oval track forming margin member l4, whichat the right hand side provides a longitudinal ball projection passagel5 at the lower end of which is arranged a ball projecting plunger i6carried in the front 'wall H. l3 from which balls shot by the projectorrebound onto the top end of the board for gravita-' board l3 inscattered relation thereon is formed with a series of ball receivingholes, there being nine in the present embodiment by way ofillustration, which are numbered in'order, I8, i9, 20, 2i, 22, 23, 24,25 and 26.

As shown in Figures 2 and 11' the board l3 on its under side adjacenteach of the nine holes carries mountings for spring finger" switchesnumbered 18* W 20 20 22 23 24 25 and 26 each of which includes twonormally spaced apart, soft, spring fingers, which have their contactends disposed under the respective A spring bumper I1 is provided on theboard holes to enable a ball entering the holes to lodge on a switch forclosing the same in the well known manner. 7

The usual slidably mounted shuiiie board 2! is carried from the underside of the game board l3, which is pulled in the usual way by a spring28 toward the front wall so that the same is in position to support thespring contact fingers as shown in Figure 11. This shuffle board 2'!adjacent its front end carries a bracket 29 as shown in Figure 2 to bepushed by the usual manually operable coin released slide 30 forshifting the panel 27 rearwardly, whereupon a series of cut out openingstherein adjacent each of the nine holes in the top board l3, such forexample as the. hole numbered .3! in Figure 11, is brought under theseveral switches 18 etc. This re- 7 moves the/support 21 from under theswitches so that the balls lodged thereon weight said switchesdownwardly, and since the same are soft and resilient, causing the ballstojbe released from the several holes and to drop through" the out outopenings 3! and below the shufile panelboard 21.

A sloped ball receiving under board 32 is fixed inthe cabinet to receivethe freed balls and cause them to gravitate toward the front end of thegame. A transversely inclined trough 33, as i shown in Figure 3,receives these balls and de-' livers them in lined up order to anarcuate groove 35 formed in the right hand wall of the cabinet. Thisgroove 34 constitutes the usual ball lift guide, in which is operable aball lifter 35"operable by a plunger 36 for raising the balls, one at atime, from the trough 33 and through theguide groove and into the ballprojection passage l5 in position to be projected by the projector l6.

Balls in play which miss the nine score value holes l8, l9, etc.,gravitate to thelower end of the board 33, where they fall into a pocket31, there being an extension 38 at the front 'end of the shuffle board21 to support such balls until the termination of the game play. Ofcourse, when the panel 2? is released by operation of the coin slide,such balls fall oif the front end of the extension 38 and drop onto achute board 39, which leads the said balls into the trough 33, all as iswell known in the art.

The top surface of the board l3 carries in front of each hole l8, IS,etc., nine electric lamps, respectively positioned as stated andnumbered E8 Ill 20 21 22 23 24 25 and 26 The lampl8 is shown in Figure11 and all of them appear in Figures 1 and 12. V

The purpose of the present game invention is automatically to light oneof these lamps when the shufiie board is moved to release the balls atthe start of the game play, thus indicating to the player which of thenine scoring holes he is first to play for in attempting to lodge ordeposit the balls. Thereafter, should he succeed in depositing a ball insuch indicated hole, a new circuit is built up to light one of the lampsadjacent another hole to indicate it as the next suit is achieved by anovel form of rotary disk' switch which is set in a position forpredetermining the order of building up the necessary circuits, when theshufile board is released.

.As shown best in Figures 2 9 and 10, a fiat,

' hole to be played, and so on. This desirable recircular disk 40 madeof a non-conductor materialis horizontally mounted for rotation. on avertical shaft ll appropriately supported in any desirable-positionbeneath the board I 3 and out of sight of the player, preferably, thoughnot necessarily. This disk has fixed to its under side ahub 42 includinga ratchet wheel 43. The lower end of the shaft is carried in a bracket44, as shown.

A slide arm 45 is shiitably carried from the under side of the board l3and is normally pulled by a spring 45 to a forward position in thedirection of the front wall ll, said arm 45 having a bent portion asshown in Figure 4 in the path of movement of the shuffle board 21. Therear end of the arm 45 mounts a pin 4! for pivotal connection to one armof a bell crank dog 48, which dog at its angle is pivotally mounted on apin 49, carried by a member 50 connected to the shaft 4|. See Figures 7and 8. One leg or arm of the dog 48 is formed with a flange 5| to stoppivotal movement of the dog when said flange 5| abuts the edge of themember 50. The other leg of the dog 48 is formed with a flange 52 toengage the notches in the ratchet wheel 43, said dog being pressedtoward the wheel by means of a spring 53. This disk turning mechanismalways turns the disk step by step clockwise as viewed from the top, butcounterclockwise as seen in the bottom view of Figure '7. This fact isimportant to keep in mind, that is, the disk 40 always is moved in thesame direction and is never reversed.

On its top side, Figure 9, the edge of the disk is formed with acircular series of spaced conductor buttons 54, and inwardly thereofwith a concentric series of six spaced conductor rings 55.

On its under side the conductor buttons are cross connected by a numberof wires, for instance, a pair of buttons 54 is joined by a wire 56 (seeFigure '7); another pair is cross connected by a tap 51; another pair ofa wire 58; another pair by a wire 59 which includes a tap 59" to thefirst ring 55; another wire 65 connects another pair of buttons and itincludes a tap 60 to the second ring 55, looking radially inwardly;another wire 6| connects another pair of buttons and includes a tap M tothe third ring 55; another cross wire 62 connects another pair ofbuttons and includes a connection 62 with the fourth ring 55; stillanother cross wire 63 ties two other buttons together and it includes atap B3 with the fifth ring 55 and lastly a wire 64 leads from one of thebuttons to the sixth or inner ring 55.

A master wire or tap 65 is carried on the disk 40 and connects betweenone of the buttons 54 and a conductor plate 66, to which plate isconnected a main power input wire 61 leading from a suitable source ofenergy, such for example, as the battery 68 carried in any appropriateplace within the cabinet.

Above the disk 40 the under side of the board it, which is wood and anon-conductor, carries a ring or" separate, depending spring conductorfingers 69 which have their lower wiper ends spaced apart in the samespacing as the buttons 54 on the disk 40 so that these fingers alwaysengage electrically with the respective buttons. (See Figures 4 and10-.) As shown in Figure 10 the contact springs 69 have wires (0respectively lead from them, the wire as shown in Figure 12, from onespring 69 connecting with a ball switch 25 for example, and the nextwire going counterclockwise in the figure leading to lamp 25 adjacentthe same. Thus, these wires '19 pair up and connect the springs 69 withall of the ball switches and the respective lamps. One wire 10 goesthrough a ball switch in the ball pockets and the next wire 10 goesthrough 2. correspond ing lamp, all wires being tapped into a main wirell leading back to the battery.

Above the disk 40 the under side of the board I3 also carries six,separate, spring, conductor, wiper fingers 72 from which lead sixrespective wires 73 mounted on the under side of the board and which arerespectively connected to metal clips 74. (See Figures 5 and 6.) Belowthese clips the cabinet carries complementary conductor clips 75 whichcontact the clips 14 when the board 13 is assembled down into thecabinet to establish an electrical connection, since the circuits 13respectively pass through the clips and are tapped into a common wire 15(see Figure 12) from which runs a lead 11 into an electromagnetic devicewhich is here diagrammatically shown as an electromagnet.

The magnet when energized pulls an armature 79 which may operate a bellor gong 85. The circuit for the magnet is completed with the wire H by atap 8i. This magnet 18 could be a solenoid or electric motor and asuitable dispenser may obviously be substituted for the bell 80.

This completes the description of the structural parts of the game andthe manner of its use and the mode of operation will next be described.In this connection we will assume that ten balls are available for playand that they are lodged in the several holes l8, I9, etc., and thepocket 31.

The game is operable for play when the coin slide is coin released andmanually pushed into the cabinet, the slide serving to shift the shufileboard 2! rearwardly in the well known manner to free the balls forreturn to the trough 33 and ball lifter 35 in the manner previouslydescribed. As the spring 28 returns the shuifie board the ball switchesI8 I9 etc., under the respective holes are held normally open and inposition to be closed by balls entering the several holes and lodging onthe said spring switches.

As the shuffle board 21 was shifted it engaged the slide arm 45 (seeFigures 4, 7 and 8) to swing the bell crank dog 48 on its pivot 49 untilthe flange 5i abuts against the arm 50 as shown in Figure '7. Thisrocking movement of the dog caused removal of the flange 52 from a notchin the ratchet wheel 43 to free the same for a one step turn in thedirection shown by the arrow in Figures 7 and 8. As the shuflie board ispulled back by its spring to normal position the arm 45, of course, isfreed and its spring 45 is now operative to pull it toward the frontwall I I.

As the arm 45 moves it rocks the bell crank reversely with the spring 53urging the flange 52 to duty in the next notch of the wheel 43. As thebar continues its forward movement the engaged dog turns the wheel 43until the flange 52 abuts the brace 44 and is stopped.

This movement is just sufiicient to move the disk 40 one step andtransfer the master input wire 55 from one point 54 to the next adjacentone in the direction of rotation noted. The energy from the battery nowenters through wire 57, plate 55, master wire 65 to the button 54mentioned. Since this button is in contact with a spring wiper 69, wefind as shown in Figure 12 a wire 15 carries the energy to lamp lilwhich new in a completed circuit causing the lamp to light. The lamp, ofcourse, is always connected to the return wire H. Thus, a light at oneof the holes is turned on to indicate to the player balls again closethe motor circuit.

lamp is turned on;

that he must lodge a ball in the hole !8 if he is to follow the properorder of play. The player thereupon projects the balls onto the board,one at a time, by means of the projector in the well 1 known manner.

' It'is to be noted that a spring finger 69 connects the current fromthe master wire 6-5 to the ball switch l8, but since the said switch isopen, nothing happens. However, when a ball enters the hole N3 theswitch 18 is closed and we find now that the current can pass throughthe wire 56 (see Figure 7) that leads the current to a wire 'liltocomplete a circuit to lamp: 24 which now is turned on to indicate tothe player that the next hole in the order of play for receiving a ballshould be hole 24.

Now, when a ball is projected into hole 24 the switch 24'" is closedcausing the current to flow through wire 5! by means of a fingerconnecter 69 which feeds the current into wire i0 that isin circuit withthe lamp l9 whereupon said If a ball is now projected into hole IS theswitch I9 is closed and by means of a finger 69 the current can flowinto wire 58 on the disk to energize the wire ii! for lamp 22*, whichconsequently is turned on to show the player he should next try to lodgea ball in hole 22. At this point it is interesting to note that fourholes have balls lodged in them and the fourth wire 58 by means of afinger 69 sends the energy into wire 59 and wire 5%.

The latter wire 59 causes current to flow into the first ring at theouter edge of the top side of the plate, whereupon the current is leadby a finger l2, wire E3, to wires 16 and Ti to energize the magnet 78and ring the bell 8D. The bell, of course, indicates a skill achievementsince pocketing four of the balls is considered skillful. It is to benoted that the four holes so far receiving the balls need notnecessarily have received the balls in the indicated order, for as soonas all four holes have a ball in them the circuits described have beenestablished in any event, since during the play the control disk switchis stationary and the necessary circuits to pass the current arecompleted when the ball switch circuits involved'are closed.

The structure and mode of operation thus far described makes it plainthat a. skill achievement has been made upon the pocketing of four ballsand if only four balls were sealed in the cabinet available for playthis would end the play. However, where more balls are available as inthe present disclosure, a situation exists making it possible to depositballs over and abov the four so far played.

If any of the remaining balls over four are played in scoring holes, andit is desirable to :cause additional actuations of the electric motordevice 18, it will be necessary to provide any well known timer orregulating device driven by the member 78 to open its circuit every timeit has operated so that additional operations thereof will be possiblewhen subsequently deposited lating devices are well known in the art andneed not be described as they per se form no part of the presentinvention.

The Wire 59 ,now passes current to turn on lamp 242i through a finger 69and to wire 60 for connecting the second ring from the outer edge of thedisk 40 tomake it possibleto operate the electromagnetic motor device18, or its equivalent, again. Also, at the sametime the wire 60 passesSuch regucurrent to turn on the'circuit for lamp 27 and" thereafter whenthe switch 23 is closed by a ball the current passes through the disk 49across wire 6! and into wire Gl The latter connects with the third ring55 to make it possible again to operate the device 18, and the wire 6|completes the circuit to the lamp 26 which now The playerwill next lodgea ball on switch 26* to connect through a finger 69, the wire 62, havinga tap 62 with the fourth ring 5-5 which makes it possible to operatedevice 18 and to pass the current, through a finger 59 into wire 63 onthe disk to turn on lamp Z! and energize wire (53 for another possibleoperation of device 18 from the fifth ring 55.

When the ball switch 2l is closed the wire 63 turns on lamp 25 for thelast of the nine holes and if the last ball switch 25 is closed thenwire 54 passes current through the sixth ring 5 5 to make it possible bymeans of a regulator tooperate the device 78 again.

It is to be noted that as viewed in Figures 7 and 12 the cross wires onthe plate Q6 begin and terminate on a contact button 54 and through afinger 59 pick up the starting end of the next cross wire in acounterclockwise direction when viewed from the bottom. In other Words,building up the circuits through the control disk is always in thisdirection from one button 54 to the next. Further, the startingoperation of circuit building always begins from the button 56 andfinger 69 on which the master wire 65 comes to rest. 7 It is theintention. to cover all changes and modifications of the preferredexample of the invention herein shown which donot in material respectsconstitute departures from the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game having a substantially horizontal game board over whichballs are rollable into pockets formed therein, electrical indicatorsrespectively disposed on the board adjacent certain of the pockets, aswitch device located in each of the same pockets, which switch devicesare normally open, and circuits with a source of energy for theindicators and for the switch devices, the combination with saidcircuits of a master switch member for controlling the circuits andmovable from one position to another, said member ineluding a master tapoperable when the member is ina stationary position for establishing acircuit to actuate one of the indicators adjacent one of the pockets, aball lodging thereafter in said indicated pocket serving to close thedevice therein for establishing another circuit through the masterswitch to actuate an indicator adjacent another pocket.

2. In a game comprising a substantially horizontal board over whichballs are rollable into holes formed therein, electric lampsrespectively carried by the board adjacent certain of the holes, aswitch device carried below each of said certain holes which devices arenormally open, and circuits with a source of energy for the lamps andfor the devices, the combination with said circuits of a movably mountedmaster switch switch to turn on a lamp adjacent another hole.

3. In a game of the class described having a substantially horizontalball rolling table having pockets for receiving the balls formedtherein, lamps on the table disposed respectively adjacent each pocketto designate same, and a normally open ball closed switch in eachpocket, the combination with the table of a rotatably mounted normallystationary switch disk carried by the table and electrically connectedwith a source of energy, said disk carrying electrical connectionsadapted to connect between the several pocket switches and lamps,wherebypocketing of the balls serves to close the pocket switches andthrough the disk switch establishes circuits for lighting the lamps in acertain order, and means for rotating the disk switch to a differentstationary position for changing the order of lighting the lamps.

4. In a game of the class described having a substantially horizontaltable provided with holes in scattered relation, certain holes having anormally open switch therein, lamps carried on the table for designatingeach of said certain holes and located respectively to correspondtherewith, said switches serving to support balls in the holes and theswitches being closable by the balls, and circuits from a source ofenergy to the switches and to the lamps, the combination with the tableof means operable when balls enter the holes and close the switches forsuccessively completing lamp circuits in a certain order to turn on thelamps, said means comprising a normally stationary rotatable conductorcarrying plate carried by the table, a shuille board shiftably mountedbeneath the table and having ball drop openings to release the ballsfrom the holes and switches when the board is shifted, means forshifting the board, and means including pawl and ratchet mechanismoperable from the shuflle board when it is shifted for rotating theplate to another angular position for re-establishing the circuits andfor changing the order of succession in lighting the lamps.

5. In a substantially horizontal game board over which balls arerollable into pockets formed therein, electrical indicators disposed onthe board adjacent certain of the pockets to designate same, a switchdevice located in each of the same pockets, which switch devices are normally open, and circuits with a source or" energy for the indicators andfor the switch devices, the combination with the board of a masterswitch member carried by the board for controlling the circuits andmovable from one position to another, said member including a master tapoperable when the member is in a stationary position for completing acircuit to actuate one of the indicators adjacent one of the pockets, aball deposited in said indicated pocket closing the switch devicetherein to build up another circuit through the master switch to actuatean indicator adjacent another pocket, pocketing of successively playedballs serving to close the pocket switches successively, to successivelyactuate the indicators, an auxiliary circuit from the master switch toan electric motor device, said master switch serving to establish themotor device circuit after a predetermined number of balls have beendeposited in the designated pockets.

6. In a game comprising a substantially horizontal board over whichballs are rollable into holes formed therein, electric lampsrespectively carried by the board in proximity to certain of the holesto designate same, a switch device carried below each of said certainholes, which devices are normally open, and circuits with a source ofenergy for the lamps and for the devices, the combination with saidboard and circuits of a movably mounted master switch member forcontrolling the circuits, said member including a master wire operablewhen the member is in a stationary position for establishing a circuitto light a lamp for one of the holes, a ball lodging thereafter in saidindicated hole serving to close the switch device therein forestablishing another circuit through the master switch to turn on a lampfor another hole, means included in the master switch member forestablishing an auxiliary circuit, and an electromagnetic motor devicein said auxiliary circuit, said auxiliary circuit and motor device beingoperable when a predetermined number of balls have been deposited inlamp designated holes.

7. In a game of the class described having a substantially horizontaltable provided with holes in scattered relationship thereon, each holehaving a normally open switch therein, lamps located on the table inproximity to the holes for designating each hole respectively andarranged to correspond therewith, and circuits from a source of energyto the hole switches and to the lamps, the combination with the tableand circuits of means operable when balls enter the holes and close theswitches therein for successively completing the lamp circuits to turnon the lamps, said means comprising a normally stationary rotatablecircuit changing plate carried by the table, means included in the platefor establishing an auxiliary circuit, an electromagnetic motor devicein said auxiliary circuit, said auxiliary circuit and motor device beingoperable when a number of balls have been deposited in the designatedpockets, and means for altering the angular position of the plate tochange the circuits and vary the order of succession in lighting thelamps.

8. In a ball rolling game having a substantially horizontal tableprovided with pockets for receiving the balls, each pocket including anor mally open ball closed switch, indicator lamps respectively carriedon the table in proximity to each pocket, and circuits for the saidswitches and lamps, the combination with said structure of a normallystationary control member rotatably carried adjacent the table, saidmember having means for completing the circuits for the lamps to lightthe lamps, said circuits being individually completed through thecontrol member from one lamp to another as the balls are deposited inthe pockets and in a predetermined order governed by the position of thecontrol member, and means for altering the angular position of saidcontrol member in a chance manner and its circuit completing means inrelation to the lamps and pocket switches for varying the order ofsuccession in lighting the lamps.

9. In a ball rolling game having a substan tially horizontal tableprovided with pockets for receiving the balls, each pocket including anormally open ball closed switch, indicator lamps carried on the tablerespectively in proximity to each pocket to designate same, circuits forthe said switches and lamps, and an auxiliary circuit including anelectromagnetic motor device, the combination with said structure of acircuit control member carried by the table and having means forestablishing circuits for the lamps to light the lamps, said circuitsbeing individually established from one lamp to another as the balls aredeposited in the respective pockets and in a predetermined ordergoverned by the position of the control member, said control memberincluding means for establishing the auxiliary circuit and causingoperation of the motor device when a predetermined number of balls havebeen deposited in the lamp designated pockets.

10. In a game of the class described having a substantially horizontalball rolling table formed with spaced ball receiving pockets therein,lamps on the table disposed respectively adjacent the pockets todesignate same, and a normally open ball closable switch in each pocket,the combination with said table of a turnably mounted master switchcarried by the table and having means for electrically connecting theswitches and lamps with a source of energy, means for turning the masterswitch and holding it stationary in a fixed position to which it hasbeen turned, said master switch including a tap electrically connectedin the stationary position of the switch with one of the lamps to lightsame for designating to the player that the pocket adjacent said lightedlamp is the pocket which should next receive a ball in the order ofplay,

the switch in said last mentioned pocket, when it receives a ballserving to close the switch therein and complete a circuit through themaster switch to light a lamp on the table adjacent still'anotherpocket. 7 V

11. In a game of the class described having a substantially horizontaltable provided with holes in scattered relationship thereon, eachholehaving a normally open ball operated switch therein, lamps carried bythe table for designating each hole and arranged to correspondtherewith, and circuits from a source of energy to the hole switches andto the lamps, the combination with said circuits of means operable whena ball enters any one of the holes and closes the switch therein forsuccessively establishing the lamp circuits so as to turn on the lampwhich designates another hole, said means comprising a normallystationary rotatable conductor carrying plate car-' ried by the table,and means for altering the angular position of the plate to vary in achance manner the connections between the hole switches and the lampswhich designate the other holes.

BRADLEE W. WILLIAMS. 'I-IOMER S. WILLIAMS.

